Those seeking the oohs and aahs of traditional Fourth of July fireworks could be sadly disappointed this year: Public displays and sales of boxed firecrackers are being canceled or scaled back across the nation, victims of a sluggish economy, wildfire fears and product shortages caused by a warehouse fire in China.

Those seeking the oohs and aahs of traditional Fourth of July fireworks could be sadly disappointed this year: Public displays and sales of boxed firecrackers are being canceled or scaled back across the nation, victims of a sluggish economy, wildfire fears and product shortages caused by a warehouse fire in China.

Like a resounding "ding" of the sledgehammer bell, the wishes of older and younger Americans for alternatives to "higher, faster, scarier" roller coasters have been heard by theme parks across the US. The result: A more family-friendly, less teen-centric (translation: "roller-coaster dominated") experience than in recent years.